Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Chapter 41: Onward Through Uncertainty_1

The convoy of armored trucks and vehicles stretched out like a fortified serpent winding through the rugged road toward Icelorn Basin, a low hum of engines could be heard all along the desolate highway, but loud enough that you could barely hear the wind.

These roads used to be packed with traffic and life, but now they seemed abandoned filled with silence and the aftermath of surge.

While each vehicle in the convoy was reinforced and packed with supplies like food, ammunition, and gears, however the most valuable thing they carried was their families.

And currently they were secured in the most fortified sections of the convoy, behind reinforced windows that shielded them from the dangers of the outside world. Some tried to rest, though their sleep was uneasy while others stared out the windows at the broken landscape, their eyes weary but watchful.

At the heart of the convoy, inside a large, armored RV, Aiden sat with Tommy. The space inside was functional but comfortable, outfitted with maps, communication devices, and stacks of reports but he was flipping through a thick folder of documents while sitting at the central table.

His usual calm composed expression was weighed down by something heavier today. After reading the last page, he closed the folder with a soft thud and let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck.

Tommy who was seated beside him had noticed immediately. “That bad, huh?” He leaned in slightly, his eyes flicking toward the file.

Aiden didn’t answer immediately but instead, he passed the folder across the table. When Tommy took it and began scanning the contents his expression hardened.

And even though he had an idea of what was inside, the reality of the numbers still stung his face tightened with frustration as he read through the lists.

Tommy finally spoke but his voice laced with frustration. “We had around 3,000 combat personnel in our unit and every single one of them was trained to be elite, to stand above the rest, we bled with them, taught them everything but when it’s time to live up to their oaths and do what they swore to do…” He closed the folder with a hard snap and slammed it onto the table. “They stayed behind those walls like frightened chickens.” His eyes burned with disappointment. “Cowards.”

Aiden gave him a sidelong look, his tone even but not unsympathetic. “It’s not our place to judge their choices.”

Tommy scoffed as he shook his head. “You’re too generous that’s why you’re brushing this off so easily, just think after everything we gave them—the training, the trust—you’d think they’d give us some loyalty in return.”

Aiden folded his arms as he leaned back slightly. “Think about it this way: the ones who stayed? They’re the core of who we are now and they didn’t run but they chose to uphold their oath and help others so isn’t that worth more than the ones who left?”

Tommy was quiet for a beat as his jaw still clenched. “You always know how to spin it,” he muttered. But there was no bite in his words, “But yeah… you’re right.” only reluctant agreement. “Still… seventeen hundred out of three thousand feels like a punch to the gut.”

Aiden nodded, “I know but what we have now is quality so look around—the veterans, the elite among which not a single one of them left which says something.”

Tommy nodded though the frustration lingered in his eyes. “Alright, alright… I’ll try to focus on the good, but I’m telling you these damn roads aren’t helping.”

He leaned closer to the window while watching the convoy’s slow progress. “If we keep moving like this, we won’t reach Icelorn even by tomorrow and hell, we might not even make it the day after.”

Aiden unrolled a map onto the table, tapping a spot with his finger. “Before the surge, the distance from the capital to Icelorn Basin was around 2,500 to 2,700 kilometers. We should’ve been able to cover that in a day and a half, maybe less with good conditions.”

Tommy let out a dry laugh. “Yeah right, good condition.”

Aiden smirked but continued, “But now? We’re not going to make it in one push and I estimate we’ll cover maybe 1000 to 1500 kilometers today if we’re lucky. We’ll have to stop somewhere secure overnight. With the way things are, I doubt we’ll reach by tomorrow night either. We might have to camp outside and reach the day after.”

Tommy groaned. “Perfect. Just perfect and don’t even let me think about these stretches.” He gestured toward the cracked, uneven surface they were driving over. “It’s like the earth decided to stretch itself out just to mess with us, you have also seen how their are cracks in infrastructure’s as we move away from capital.”

Aiden’s expression darkened slightly. “Yeah and the further we get from the central province, the worse it’s going to get.”

Tommy asked while keeping his straight face. “So do you know why is happening and also how central region is least effected.”

“Where should I start, let see you already know everyone is awakening human, animals, plants and even the minerals so what stop this very planet to evolve and actually I think our planet it getting bigger by stretching itself,” Aiden voice lowered. “As for why central region is least effected that’s easy its mostly due to plains with its high earth density so the stretch doesn’t effect much.”

“And the beasts…they’re everywhere.” Tommy eyes followed a distant shape and saw a massive horned creature lying motionless in a ditch and its body was warped with unnatural swelling due to which its veins glowing faintly with a sickly hue. “If the beast concentration is this bad near the central, I don’t even want to think about what it’s like in the outer provinces.”

Aiden gave a short nod, his eyes narrowing. “That’s why we’re not leaving any of them behind.”

Tommy raised a brow. “You mean the bodies?”

Aiden nodded. “Load them up in the empty trucks because I have a use for them.”

Tommy blinked as he was momentarily thrown. “What kind of use?”

Aiden chuckled while shaking his head. “Trust me.”

Tommy rolled his eyes but gave a reluctant smile. “You’re lucky I trust you.”